Refrigerating apparatus for cooling liquids



March 26, 1957 H, wu z Em 2,786,338

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR CQOLiNG LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.2, 1954 I a z INVENTORS (/z'floza' X Wan: 8 l eiz 2d lggzg 2.2. My

THEIR ATTORNEY.

March 26,1957 c. H. WURTZ ETAL. 2,786,338

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 2, 1954Sheets-Sheet 2 a THEIR AIIORNE".

March 26, 1957 I c. H. WURTZYETAL J ,7

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDS Filed Aug. 2, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 3 3.2. Cam-low.

THEIR ATTORNEY,

United States atent O REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR COOLING LIQUIDSClifford H. Wurtz and Keith K. Kesling, Dayton, Ohio, assiguors toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of DelawareApplication August 2, 1954, Serial N 0. 447,235

6 Claims. (Cl. 62-89) This invention relates to refrigeration andparticularly to a liquid storing, cooling and dispensing device in ahousehold refrigerator cabinet.

An object of our invention is to associate an improved liquid storing,cooling and dispensing device with a refrigerator cabinet.

Another object of our invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinetwith a substantially concealed and sanitary liquid storing, cooling anddispensing device or system accessible for discharging liquid therefromonly when the refrigerator door is opened.

Still another object of our invention is to stationarily mount areservoir receptacle of a liquid cooling and dispensing device within arefrigerator cabinet, to dispose the discharge nozzle of the device onthe refrigerator door, so that it will be located within a compartmentof the cabinet when the door is closed out of dust etc. ambient to thecabinet, and to provide a flexible section between the cabinet and itsdoor in the conduit connection intermediate the liquid cooling reservoirand the discharge nozzle of the device which is movable by and alongwith the door.

A further object of our invention is to incorporate a liquid storing anddispensing device having a connection with a source of supply of waterunder pressure in a refrigerator cabinet and provided with a movable orflexible conduit section in the conduit extended between the elementsthereof with a valve controlling the flow of liquid through the devicelocated between the cooling receptacle reservoir and the source of waterunder pres sure so as to at all times relieve elements of the device ofexcessive or abnormally high pressures created in the source of watersupply for preventing damage to or breakage of elements of the device.

A still further and more specific object of our inven tion is to providea device of the type described in the preceding objects with means inthe form of a manually actuated selector which may be set to dischargechilled water alone or a mixture of water and fruit or the like uice.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a refrigerator cabinethaving our liquid storing and dispensing device incorporated therein andshowing the food compartment access opening door in open position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the dispensing portion of the device;and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2showing a source of supply of juice associated with the dispensingportion of the liquid cooling and storingtdevice.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings we have shown a 2,786,338 PatentedMar. 26, 1957 separate insulated food storage compartment 14 formed byan open top liner 15 is located below compartment 11' and is utilizedfor the storage of less perishable food products and left-over foodsfrom the table. The separate food storage compartments 11 and 14 aredivided from one another by an insulated partitioning wall structureconstructed in the manner described in the patent above referred to andthe lower compartment 14 is provided with a horizontal removablepan-like element 16 located below this wall structure. A vertical plate17 cooperates with the pan element 16 and together they form an invertedL-shaped flue along the top and along the upper portion of the rear ofcompartment 14. The access opening of compartment 14 as well as theseparate door 18 for compartment 11 are normally closed or covered by aninsulated door structure 19 pivotally mounted upon the refrigeratorcabinet for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto by suitablehinges and which door is shown in open position in Figure 1. Door 19 hasa portion of its inner panel or face recessed as at 20 for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. A closed refrigerating system associated withthe refrigerator cabinet includes a low temperature evaporator in theform of a conduit 21 wrapped or coiled around the line 12 which at alltimes maintains a below freezing temperature within compartment 11 andanother frosting and defrosting evaporator 22 of any suitable ordesirable plate-like form located within the vertical portion of theflue in compartment 14. Evaporator 22 cools and causes circu lation ofair in this compartment and through the flue therein. Evaporator 22receives refrigerant from evaporator 21 and these evaporators areconnected by suitable pipes or conduits 23 and 24 respectively with arefrig erant translating device comprising a motor-compressor unit 26and a condenser 27. Such a refrigerant translating device is usuallymounted in a machine compartment, such as compartment 28, located belowthe insulated food storage compartment 14. The electric motor in unit 26may be started and stopped under the control of a suitable orconventional thermostatic switch means (not shown) responsive to ademand to refrigeration in com-' partment 14 for circulating liquidrefrigerant to the evaporators 21 and 22 in succession under theregulation of an expansion valve or restrictor 29 as is well known inthe art.

In accordance with our invention a liquid storing and dispensing device,system or apparatus is associated with the refrigerator cabinet andconnected with a source of supply of water under pressure. This deviceor system is preferably adapted to discharge chilled-water alone or amixture of juice and water therefrom. Thus in accordance with thispreference a source of supply of concentrated fruit juice or the like isalso associated with the refrigerator cabinet. The present liquidstoring, cooling and dispensing device or system includes a pipe 31 connected with a source of supply of water under pressure leading to therefrigerator cabinet and a pipe 32 extending upwardly in the insulatedcabinet wall along compartment 14 to a tank, coil or receptacle forminga storage reservoir 33 for Water in the refrigerator cabinet. A controlvalve 34, located in the machine compartment 28, is interposed in thepipe connection between reservoir 33 and the source of water supply 31.Valve 34 is actuated in response to energization and deenergization ofan electric solenoid 36 associated therewith. The reservoir 33 ispreferably substantially flat and elongated and is stationarily mounted,in any suitable or conventional manner within the center part of thehorizontal leg portion of the inverted L-shaped air flue withincompartment 14- above the pan-like element 16 therein. Air caused to becirculated by the evaporator 22 in compartment 14 enters the horizontalleg portion of the flue at the front thereof and flows along and incontact with both the top and bottom sides of the receptacle reservoir33 to efiiciently chill water received therein from the pipes 31 and 32.Thus the water receptacle or reservoir 33' is exposed to the lowtemperature within food compartment 14 and is effectively cooledthereby. A conduit comprising the lengths of tubing 37, 38 and 39connect the receptacle reservoir 33 to a manually actuated selector orvalve on door 19 of a dispensing unit portion of the water storing anddispensing device or system, generally represented by the referencecharacter 40, and is provided with an indicator knob or handle 41. Thedispensing unit 40 is mounted on door 19 within the recess thereof at aheight above the reservoir 33. The lengths of tubing 37 and 39 in theconduit connection between the stationary reservoir 33 and dispensingunit in or on door 19 may be metal but the length 38 thereof is areadily movable or flexible tube and is preferably constructed ofplastic or rubber-like material. The flexible tube 38v is provided witha looped portion of such length as to permit door 19 to be swung aboutits hinged mountings on the refrigerator cabinet without loosening ordamaging the pipe or conduit connections of the liquid storing, coolingand dispensing device or system. A horn-like sleeve 43, secured in anysuitable or conventional fashion, to door 19 receives a portion of thelength of flexible tubing 38 for protecting the same while door 19' isin open position. This sleeve 43 also has insulated electric wires 44and 46 passing therethrough. The one end of wire 44 is attached to asource of electric current such as that leading to the motor-compressorunit 26 of the refrigerating system associated with the refrigeratorcabinet. The other end of wire 44 is attached to a contact of aconventional spring loaded electric push button switch 47 forming a partof the dispensing unit 40 carried' by door 19 and located in thevicinity of the indicator 41 and a discharge nozzle of the unit. The oneend of wire 46 is also attached to a contact of the switch 47 and hasits other end attached to the solenoid 36 of valve 34. A third wire 48has its one end attached to the solenoid of valve 34 and has its otherend connected to the other side of the source of electric currentsupply. A source of supply of concentrated fruit juice or the like isassociated with the refrigerator cabinet and is supported on the innerface of door 19 in close proximity to the dispensing unit 40 of theliquid storing, cooling and dispensing device or system. The selectorvalve controlled by the indicator knob or handle 41 is adapted,depending upon. the position thereof, to cause chilled water alone or amixture of chilled Water and cooled juice to. flow through. a. dischargenozzle portion 49 of the dispensing unit 40 carried by door 19 when thepush. button switch 47 is closed aswill be more fully describedhereinatfer. It' is to be understood that the pipes or conduits 37, 3 87and 39, which convey chilled water from reservoir 33,, may if desired orif found necessary be individually insulated.

Dispensing unit portion 40 of the liquid storing and dispense device orsystem herein disclosed includes several preferably moulded plasticparts or housings suitably secured together and mounted in the recess 26of the inner panel 52 of insulated door 19. A shelf 53 Within the.recess 20 of door 19 and located below unit 4!) has removable open topcontainers 54 and 56 supported centrally thereon. The container 54 isadapted to be filled with concentrated fruit juice or the like and formsthe source of supply thereof associated, with the refrigerator cabinet(see Figures 1 and 3). The juice in container 54 is exposed to the lowtemperature Within the refrigerator when door 19 is closed and is cooledthereby. The other container 56 is utilized as a drinking cup orreceptacle and is adapted to receive water or a mixture of water andjuice from the nozzle 49 of unit 40.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be noted that therigidly secured together parts or housings 57 and 58 of unit 46 areenclosed in a cover or shroud 59 while the nozzle part or housing 49thereof is pivotally connected to housing 58 and to cover 59. Part orhousing 57 of unit 40 is provided with a bore 61 having a suitablesealed rotatable barrel-like selector valve 62 located therein. Theselector knob or handle 41 is attached to valve 62 in any suitablemanner for rotating the same within the bore 61 of housing 57. A centralbore 63 provided in valve 62 communicates through suitable pipe fittings64 with the Water pipe or conduit 39 located in the insulating materialwithin door 19. The valve 62 is provided with two lateral passages 66and 67 off-set relative to one another for a purpose to be presentlydescribed. Passages 66 and 67 are adapted to be alternately placed incommunication with passages 63 and 69 respectively provided in thehousing 57. Stop means such as a lug and groove arrangement '71 and 72may be provided on valve 62 and in housing 57 respectively to preventthe valve 62 from being rotated further than necessary. The inlet valve34 controls the admission of water to the receptacle storing anddispensing device or system associated with the refrigerator cabinet andit is preferable to have passage 66 of unit 46' normally communicatingwith passage 68. Passage 6% in housing 57 at all times communicates witha passageway '73 provided in housing part 58 of unit 40 and passage 69at all times communicates with a passageway 74 provided in the housingpart 58. Passageway 73 leads into passageway 74 and this passageway 74is provided with a reduced section 76 intermediate the point ofcommunication of passageway 73 therewith and passage 69 in housing 57.The reduced section 76 of passageway 77 and a downwardly directedpassage 77 adjacent thereto forms a Venturi means or device whichcommunicates with a tube 78 and a ball check valve 79 therein (seeFigure 3). Tube 78 is sealed to housing part 53 of unit 40 in anysuitable or conventional manner and its lower end is submerged in asupply of concentrated fruit or the like juice indicated at 81 containedin container 54. The tube 78 is preferably made of flexible rubber-likematerial to permit of its being bent or flexed when container 54 ismoved relative to shelf 53 upon filling the same with the concentratedjuice. A vertical passage 82 provided in housing part 58 of unit 46communicates with the outlet end of both passages 73 and 74. The nozzlepart 49 of unit 40 is provided with a handle portion 83 (see Figure 2),is suitably sealed to a depending portion of housing 58, through: whichthe passage 82 extends, and is rotatably or pivotally locked upon cover59 as by a C-shaped washer or the like 84. The discharge passageway 86within nozzle 49 is at all. times in communication with passage 82. Adam 87 provided in the nozzle discharge passageway 86 adjacent the lowerend thereof forms an effective means for preventing drippage from nozzle49 when the flow of liquid therethrough is stopped. The specific mannerof securing the housing parts of unit 40 together and of mounting unit49 and its cover 59 on the door panel 52 has not been described and isbelieved to be conventional and well within the skill of one familiarwith the art.

The refrigerator is placed in operation, a can. or cans of concentratedfruit juice or the like is or are opened and emptied into container 54-on the cabinet door 19 and push button electric switch 47 is'closed toadmit sufficient water from pipe 31 and valve 34, to the liquid storingand dispensing device or system for substantially filling the reservoir33'and. conduits 37, 38 and -3'9'whereupon switch 47 is released to shutoff the water and the refrigerator cabinet door 19 is closed. Both thesource of supply of juice 81 in container 54 and water in reservoir 33are exposed to the low temperature within the refrigerator cabinet andare thus chilled. A predetermined lapse of time is permitted to expirefor insuring that water in reservoir 33 will be cooled to a desiredtemperature and then the liquid storing and dispensing device or systemassociated with the refrigerator is ready for use. A subsequent openingof the refrigerator cabinet door 19 and closing of switch 47 energizesthe solenoid 36 of valve 34 and causes water incoming to reservoir 33,from the source of supply 31 thereof, to force chilled water from thereservoir through pipes or conduits 37, 38 and 39. The looped orflexible section 38 of the conduit connection between stationarilymounted reservoir 33 and unit 40 permits the door 19 to be moved orswung about its hinged mounting relative to the refrigerator cabinetwithout damaging or breaking this conduit connection. As before statedthe indicator knob or handle 41 of the selector or valve 62 of unit 40is preferably and normally set to establish communication between thepassages 66 and 68 thus chilled water alone for drinking purposes willflow from pipe 39 through the bore 63 in selector valve 62 and throughthe passageways 73, 74, 82 and 86 out of nozzle 49. It being understoodthat nozzle 49 has previously been rotated about its pivotal mountingoutward relative to unit 40, as shownby the dot-dash lines in Figure 2of the drawings, in order to facilitate catching of the dischargedchilled water in the removable drinking cup or container 56. As soon asthe desired amount of chilled water has been received in the drinkingcontainer 56 the spring loaded push button of electric switch 47 isreleased to open the switch and deenergize solenoid valve 34 which thencloses and stops the flow of water from the water pipe or main 31. Sincethe dispensing unit 40 is above the water storage reservoir 33 waterwill be trapped in elements of the water storing, cooling and dispensingsystem from unit 40 on back to valve 34. After replacing container 56 onshelf 53 and swinging nozzle 49 into its normal position door 19 may beclosed until it is again desired to obtain access to the interior of therefrigerator cabinet or to again obtain access to the nozzle of thewater storing and dispensing device on the inner face of door 19.

If it is desired to obtain a drink of fruit or the like juice, from theconcentrated supply 81 thereof in container 54, mixed with apredetermined amount of water the refrigerator cabinet door is openendand the selector valve 62 of the dispensing unit 40 is rotated byindicator knob or handle 41, approximately one-quarter of a completerevolution in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 3of the drawings, to close off communication between the passages 66 and68 in this unit and to place the passage 67 of valve 62 in communicationwith the passage 69. Pushing of the spring loaded button of electricswitch 47 on door 19 closes this switch and energizes solenoid valve 34to again admit water under pressure from pipe main 31 to reservoir 33for forcing chilled water'to flow from the reservoir; At this time thechilled water flows through valve 62, passages 67 and 69 into thepassageway 74 of the dispensing unit 40. Water flowing through thereduced section-76 of passageway 74 forming the Venturi device rendersthis Venturi effective for creating a suction within the passage 77.This suction is suflicient to lift the ball of check valve 79 off itsseat and to draw concentrated fruit juice upwardly in tube 78 from thesupply thereof 81 in container 54 and to discharge the same intopassageway 74 wherein it is mixed with chilled water flowingtherethrough and is dispensed from nozzle 49 by way of passages 82 and86 and caught in the drinking cup or container 56. As soon as container56 is filled to a desired level with the water and juice mixture thepush button of electric switch 47 is released and this stops the flow ofwater through passageway 74 to render the Venturi device ineffectivewhich thereby stops the flow of concentrated juice to passageway 74 inthe dispensing unit 40. The ball of check valve 79 reseats itself andprevents any water seeping from the passages of unit 40 into tube 78 andcontainer 54 to avoid diluting the supply of concentrated juice 81. TheVenturi device, formed by the reduced section 76 of passageway 74, is ofsuch size and calibration as to function properly for carrying out itspurpose at and above twelve pounds pressure of water from the water main31 which is substantially below that normally existing in water mains inmost localities.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that We have provided animproved liquid storing, cooling and dispensing device or apparatus fora refrigerator cabinet. By the arrangement disclosed the entire deviceor apparatus is normally within the refrigerator out of dirt andunexposed to flies ambient thereto which is sanctioned and/or requiredby certain sanitary codes. The provision of a water supply control valveat the inlet to the water storing and dispensing device, system orapparatus particularly of the type wherein a stationary reservoirlocated in the refrigerator cabinet is connected with a dispensing uniton the movable door of the cabinet eliminates all danger of highpressures created in the source of water supply from damaging orbreaking the flexible section of the conduit between the cabinet and itsdoor. Also since no pressure can be built up in the present devicevalves and other connections therein can be easily and economicallysealed. By virtue of the fact that a manually actuated selector valveand a single electric switch only is employed in our liquid storingdevice we are enabled to reduce to a minimum the cost of providing ahousehold refrigerator cabinet with a system or apparatus for dispensingchilled water alone and/or a mixture of water and juice.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted as may come within the scope of the claim-s whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination a cabinet having a compartment therein provided withan opening and a movable door normally closing said opening, means forrefrigerating the interior of said compartment to a low temperature, aliquid storing and dispensing device associated with said cabinet, saiddevice including a reservoir stationarily mounted in said cabinet andexposed to the low temperature within said compartment, said reservoirbeing connected to a source of water supply for chilling water receivedtherein from said supply thereof, said device also including a source ofsupply of juice associated with said cabinet and located on the innerface of said door in exposed relation to the low temperature within saidcompartment, a nozzle on said door for discharging liquid from saiddevice, a conduit for conveying water from said reservoir to saidnozzle, a valve interposed in the connection between said reservoir andsaid source of water supply for controlling the flow of water throughsaid device, manually adjustable means interposed in said conduitintermediate said nozzle and said reservoir for selectively directingwater alone or a mixture of water and juice to said nozzle, said conduitcomprising a portion between said door and said cabinet movable bymovement of said door relative to the cabinet, and means on said doorfor actuating said valve.

2. In combination a cabinet having a compartment therein provided withan opening and a movable door normally closing said opening, means forrefrigerating the interior of said compartment to a low temperature, aliquid storing and dispensing device associated with said cabinet, saiddevice including a reservoir stationarily mounted in said cabinet andexposed to the low temperature within said compartment, said reservoirbeing connectcd to a source of water supply for chilling water re ceivedtherein from said supply thereof, said device also including a source ofsupply of juice associated with said cabinet and located on the innerface of said door in exposed relation to the low temperature Within saidcompartment, a nozzle on said door for discharging liquid from saiddevice, a conduit for conveying Water from said reservoir to saidnozzle, a solenoid actuated valve interposed in the connection betweensaid reservoir and said source of water supply for controlling the flowof water through said device, manually adjustable means on said doorinterposed in said conduit intermediate said nozzle and said reservoirfor selectively directing water alone or a mixture of water and juice tosaid nozzle, said conduit comprising a flexible section between saiddoor and said cabinet permitting movement of said door relative tosaidcabinet to afford access to the nozzle on said door, and an electricswitch on said door in the vicinity of said nozzle for energizing anddeenergizing said so'lcnoid valve.

3'. In combination a refrigerator cabinet having a food storagecompartment therein provided with an opening and a movable door normallyclosing said opening, means associated with said refrigerator cabinetfor chilling the interior of said compartment to a low temperature, awater storing and dispensing device associated with said cabinet, saiddevice including a reservoir stationarily mounted in said cabinet andexposed to the low temperature within said compartment, said reservoirbeing connected to a source of water supply under pressure for chillingwater received therein from said supply, said device also including anozzle carried by and movable with said door relative to said reservoirfor discharging chilled Water therefrom, a conduit connecting saidstatio'narily mounted reservoir to said nozzle, said conduit comprisinga flexible section between said door and said cabinet movable bymovement of the door relative to the cabinet, a valve interposed in theconnection between said reservoir and said source of water supply, meansfor operating said valve to control the flow of water from said nozzle,and said nozzle being located above said reservoir whereby when saidvalve is closed water is trapped in said water storing and dispensingdevice.

4.1n combination, a cabinet having a compartment therein provided withan opening and a movable door normally closing said opening, a waterstoring. and dispens'ing device associated with said cabinet, saiddevice including a reservoir within the compartment of said cabinet,said reservoir being connected to a source of water supply; said devicealso including a source of supply or" juice associated with saidcabinet, a nozzle on said door for discharging liquid from said device,a conduit for conveying water from said reservoir to said nozzle, asolenoid valve in the connection between said reservoir and said watersupply source, a selector interposed in said conduit intermediate saidnozzle and said reservoir, said selector being adjustable forselectively directing water alone or a mixture of water and juice tosaid nozzle, said reservoir being stationarily'mou'nted in saidcompartment and said nozzle being on said door and movable therewithrelative to said reservoir, said conduit comprising a flexiblerubber-like section between saiddoor and said cabinet, and an electricswitch on said said cabinet including a refrigerant evaporator in one ofsaid portions of said flue for chilling and causing circulation of airWithin said compartment through said flue, a water storing anddispensing device associated with said cabinet, said device includingareservoir mounted in the other portion of said flue and a nozzlecarried on the inner face of said door for discharging Water cooled insaid reservoir therefrom, a conduit connecting'said reservoir to saidnozzle, said conduit comprising a flexible section between said door andsaid cabinet movable by the door when it is swung open to afford accessto said nozzle, said reservoir having a connection to a source of watersupply under pressure, a valve interposed in said connection betweensaid reservoir and the source of pressure water supply, means foractuating said valve to admit water to said Water storing and dispensingdevice, and said valve isolating said flexible section of said conduitfrom pres sures developed in said source of Water supply.

6. In combination, a cabinet having a compartment therein provided withan opening and a movable door normally closing said opening, means forrefrigerating the interior of said compartment to a low temperature, aliquid storage and dispensing device associated with said cabinet, saiddevice including a water storing means exposed to the low temperaturewithin said compartment, said storing means being connected to' a sourceof water supply for chilling water received therein from said supplythereof, said device also including a source of sup ply of juiceassociated with said cabinet in exposed relation to the low temperaturewithin said compartment, a nozzle normally confined Withinsaidcompartment for discharging liquid from said device, a conduit forconveying water from said Water storing means to said noz zle, controlmeans interposed in the connection between said Water storing means andsaid source of water supply for controlling the flow of water to saiddevice, a single manually adjustable valve interposed in said conduitintermediate said water storing means and said nozzle, means foractuating said water flow control means, means for shifting saidsingle-valve from one position to another position whereby toselectively direct water alone or a mixture of Water and juice to saidnozzle, and said last named means and said nozzle being accessible onlyupon opening said cabinet door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

